“A Taste of Burma & Bengal: An Evening to Support Rohingya Refugee Children”

“In the past two months almost 700,000 Rohingya refugees have traversed the monsoon rains and bloodied fields of Myanmar into Bangladesh’s make-shift and overcrowded refugee camps. Given the scale and pace of death and devastation, the UN, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch have all called the violence nothing short of “ethnic cleansing” at the hands of Myanmar’s security forces.

The UN’s children’s agency (UNICEF) estimates that 60% of these refugees are children. They have witnessed their homes go up in flames, and their families and friends brutalized, raped, and murdered. In their trauma they have traversed for days over the minefields of Myanmar to reach the refugee camps of Bangladesh, which has opened its borders to them.

The ordeal of Rohingya children does not end here. Tens of thousands are now in the midst of an “acute and severe” malnutrition; and they remain vulnerable to kidnapping, sex trafficking, exploitation, and the psychological impacts of having had their lives uprooted in the most violent ways. Dozens are going missing every day.

There is a way to help, and Washington DC is coming together on the evening of November 14th at The Gibson (2009 14th St, NW) for vibrant night market inspired food and cultural experience at to help create Safe Havens for the over 400,000 Rohingya refugee children in the refugee camps of Bangladesh.

“We can all play a helpful part in in this situation. Washington DC is a sanctuary city, and this is DC’s way saying that it cares, and that it’s citizens are watching over these children,” explained Samier Mansur, of the organizers of the event.

Ticketed donations for the event will immerse attendees in Bengali & Burmese culture as they sample Burmese inspired cocktails and enjoy aromatic food and flavors from the region, created by local chefs and mixologists.

Attendees will experience live music and entertainment, and expert speakers will keep them informed about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region. Through virtual reality headsets, attendees choose to take the visual journey of a Rohingya refugee as they make the harrowing journey to safety.

Speakers:

Samia Israt Ronee, Honorable First Secretary of the Bangladesh Embassy

Virtual Reality headsets to experience the life of a Rohingya Refugee in 360

All ticketed donations will directly support the creation of Safe Havens for Rohingya Children in partnership with the award-winning Jaago Foundation. Thank you for joining us at what will be an unforgettable evening for an important cause. We look forward to building these Safe Havens with you and sending Love and support from the people of this great city to those who can really use it right now.

The event follows on a series of open house dinner fundraisers in DC where residents opened their homes to friends and family to learn more about the unfolding humanitarian crisis, the cause and contribute to the Safe Havens. Tens of thousands of dollars as raised in this way to support the cause.

The event is being organized by Love from DC – a group of young professionals, humanitarians, entrepreneurs, and concerned citizens who have partnered with the award winning Jaago Foundation to build Safe Havens where Rohingya children will be provided safe shelter, food, education and care.